The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) launched in April a management planning tool for manufacturers to bridge the gap between Industry 4.0 awareness and implementation.
Unveiled at Hannover Messe, the trade show for industrial technology in Germany, the Smart Industry Readiness Index Prioritisation Matrix was developed by EDB, the government agency tasked to create strategies for enhancing Singapore’s position as a global center for business, in consultation with McKinsey & Company, SAP, Siemens and TÜV SÜD.
The Prioritisation Matrix, according to EDB, builds upon the Smart Industry Readiness Index Assessment Matrix, which was launched in November 2017.
The Assessment Matrix helps companies identify their Industry 4.0 maturity across three fundamental pillars of Industry 4.0:process, technology and organisation.
“When it comes to Industry 4.0, many companies often focus on technology, while neglecting other critical enabling aspects such as internal company processes and manpower development,” said Chng Kai Fong, Managing Director, EDB, in the news release.
“The Prioritisation Matrix complements the Assessment Matrix by providing a holistic approach to transformation, ensuring companies prioritise their efforts on the areas that are most critical to their business,” he explained.
As of April 1, 2019, the participating organizations for the Prioritization Matrix include: InfineonTechnologies, Kimberly Clarke, Pacific Refreshments, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell Automation, SATS, SunningdaleTech, Shine Precision Engineering, and Univac Precision Engineering.
“As a medium-sized enterprise with limited resources, it is especially important that we invest our time and effort in the right areas,” said Amos Leong, CEO, Univac, in the news release. “The Prioritisation Matrix is a valuable tool because it highlights the high impact areas that we should focus on for our Industry 4.0 plans.”
Maeve Lynch, Plant Manager of Pacific Refreshments (Coca-Cola), said the company began its transformation journey in 2014 when Industry 4.0 was a relatively new concept. The Prioritisation Matrix validates their ongoing initiatives, and provides greater clarity on desired outcomes.
“We will be using the recommendations from the Prioritization Matrix to review our implementation plans and ensure that we are able to harness the full potential of Industry 4.0 over time,” Lynch said.
EDB said the Prioritisation Matrix was developed over a ten-month period, utilizing 200 used case studies in Industry 4.0 transformation.
“To ensure its technical robustness and applicability, pilots were conducted with nine Singapore-based manufacturers, comprising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and multinational corporations (MNCs) across both discrete and process industries,” it said.
The matrix is available to all manufacturing companies globally.
